By Amos SAFO
With barely five months to the crucial 2024 Presidential and Parliamentary Election, it appears that the Vice President and the flagbearer of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) is inspiring more hope in Ghanaians than his competitors.
So far Dr. Bawumia’s campaign messages of job creation, digitalising the economy and modernising education are connecting more with the youth, who constitute the largest population of the electorate.
In his ongoing strategic meetings with identifiable groups across some regions, it appears the youths are seeing his vision as a response to their future aspirations. In July, the Vice President and his campaign team, led by Mr. Ambrose Dery – the former Interior Minister and Kwabena Agyapong – former General Secretary of NPP, carried their campaign to the Bole-Bamboi and Sawla-Tuna Constituencies.
I have happened to be at the two constituencies on an official assignment when they toured the two constituencies. In fact, I was amazed at the rousing welcome Dr. Bawumia and his team received in the backyard of ex-President Mahama, who is the closest competitor to Dr. Bawumia. Traditionally, the twin constituencies are the stronghold of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).
All things being equal, it is assumed that John Mahama and the NDC will maintain their control over the constituencies; however, the 2024 elections could change the dynamics because this is the first time the NPP is fielding a northern candidate.
In fact, ex-president Mahama had predicted that the NPP will never give a northerner a chance to become its flagbearer, let alone becoming President of Ghana on its ticket. That prediction might be haunting the NDC’s presidential candidate now, because the reality has dawned.
Thus, for the first time, the five regions of the north are faced with choosing a president between two northern politicians – one is an ex-resident while the other is a serving vice president. This scenario might just be what could change the voting pattern in the northern territory.
Policy alternatives
There are a lot of differences between the two, such as credible policy alternatives, humility, past records and character, among others, which could influence the electorate of the north to choose one over the other.
Whereas Dr. Bawumia is pleading with Ghanaians to give him the opportunity to become president based on his achievements as Vice President, John Mahama’s posture is that of the “divine right to become president”, for a final term. The 1992 Constitution guarantees only four years of a government, after which another election is held to choose another president. Nowhere in the constitution is it stated that every government has eight years.
In honesty, this divine right to rule is not selling, because of Dr. Bawumia’s counter argument that it is better to vote for a candidate who will return to the electorate for reelection, compared to a candidate will not be seeking reelection.
For the sake of accountability, it makes sense to vote for a candidate who can be held to account for his or stewardship in subsequent elections. That said, the decision is for the people of the north and all Ghanaians to make. We must remember that in a democracy people get the government they choose.
It is possible
At the Wuripe and Sons Hotel where the Vice President met party supporters and well-wishers, he explained why he chose the slogan ‘it is possible’. According to him, while some people thought it was impossible for the NPP to elect a candidate from the north as flagbearer, he believes it is possible. “While some people thought Christians and Muslims cannot unite for a common cause, I believe “it is possible”, he emphasised.
Development partners
Thereafter, Dr. Bawumia highlighted a very pertinent issue that many politicians have glossed over since independence. He indicated plans to grant faith-based organisations the full status as the country’s development partners; much as all international development organisations are granted the status as Ghana’s development partners. According to him, under his presidency, relevant items imported by faith-based organisations to support the country’s social and economic development will be exempted from taxes, similar to what is granted to other international development partners.
In my view, if implemented, this policy has the tendency to redefine Ghana’s development agenda. This is because faith-based organisations, together, are complementing government efforts by providing social amenities in education, primary healthcare and water and sanitation. Put together, the schools and health facilities provided by faith-based organisations could surpass those provided by government. Across the country, faith-based organisations are providing educational and health services in some of the remotest parts of the country, where state interventions are not available.
In the early years after independence the first President of Ghana, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah nationalised some lands acquired by missionaries for churches. The policy marked an attempt to reduce the influence of churches in Ghana. In the more recent times, the former President of Ghana, Jerry Rawlings nationalised secondary schools established and managed by missionaries and churches. In all, over the years faith-based organisation have not been given due recognition for their unquantifiable contribution to socio-economic development of Ghana. It is, therefore, forthright for a presidential candidate to have such a mindset change on empowering faith-based organisations to complement the state, rather than stifling their initiatives through punitive taxes.
Credit-scoring system
On other campaign trails, Dr. Bawumia announced plans to introduce a credit-scoring system when elected to office on December 7, 2024. The credit-scoring system will make it possible for Ghanaians to obtain personal loans and help financial institutions to control allocation of risks and costs with their clients. Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia announced this at the 57th congregation of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology.
According to him the credit system will ensure discipline in the payment of loans. “Every individual will have a credit score. Right now, our credit-scoring system does not exist; so, everybody is seen as risky, and the interest rates are high. But we are going to go into individualised credit scores”, he explained.
The Vice President noted that a robust credit-scoring system will enable banks that give loans to trace borrowers and recover their money. “So, if you don’t pay your loan, you will have no credit score and you will have a problem when you go for a loan. But if you are diligent in paying your loans, you get your high credit score and you are likely to get lower interest rates. This will bring more discipline,” he added.
As it happens in some parts of the world, a credit score plays a key role in a lender’s decision to offer credit and determine associated terms. Lenders use an individual’s credit score to assess eligibility for products like mortgages, personal loans and credit cards, influencing the interest rates they will pay. A higher credit score enhances the likelihood of loan approval and secures more favourable interest rates. Conversely, lower credit scores may lead to declined loan applications or higher interest rates. Lenders are inclined to approve individuals with higher credit scores for loans with lower interest rates, reflecting a perception of lower risk.
In fact, in the western world, almost every item, including houses and cars, are acquired on credit. This means that people hardly use cash to buy goods and services. This policy, thus, makes it easy for people to invest the money they would have used to buy goods and services. This is what makes Europeans and Americans to have more investment options and better living standards.
On the contrary, due to the obnoxious system of using cash to buy everything, many Ghanaians, if not all are unable to acquire essential properties like houses and cars. In this era, it does not make sense to use two million cedis cash to buy a property, leaving nothing for investment. This explains why the private sector is not growing to create employment for our youth. It, therefore, makes sense for Ghana to have a cashless economy, perhaps starting with a credible credit-scoring system.
Solar energy as an alternative
Another feasible policy alternative that Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has announced is an ambitious plan to add 2,000 megawatts (MW) of solar power in the first four years of his government. According to the Vice President, the policy is driven by a dedication to ease the financial strain on businesses struggling with high energy tariffs. Ghana’s renewable energy currently accounts for 33 percent of its energy mix, which includes hydropower sources. In fact, the Bui Power Company has already invested in solar power to augment its hydro power generation; so it is reasonable for a future government to encourage solar power generation.
“With this initiative, we aim to significantly reduce the escalating costs of power, particularly for our businesses, thereby enhancing their competitiveness in response to pleas from traders for his administration to address the cost of power,” Dr. Bawumia stated. He explained that the plans to invest in solar power falls within the broader national objective to shift from fossil fuels to sustainable energy solutions. This is in line with the global agenda to reduce carbon emission, which has become a major contributor to climate change and global warming.
To keep global warming to 1.5°C, as agreed under the Paris Agreement, emissions need to be reduced by 45 percent by 2030 and reach net zero by 2050. In response to global commitment to reduce emissions, Ghana has undertaken to achieve net zero emissions by 2070.
This explains why I am excited about Dr. Bawumia’s intension to invest in solar energy as an alternative. In fact, dependence on hydro and thermal power is not sustainable due to the erratic rainfall pattern and the rising cost of fuel and gas to generate power.
